Thanks very much, Lorel J! I’m betting it’s a faux mangrove-root or some such thing, designed for rodent residential use (rodentsidential?). Hence the unrecognizable weirdness of the original post photo. Whew. Now I can relax.
“-)

The narrative reminds me of verrrrrry early computer games (I’m talking 1979-1980)…you know the ones that would say things like, “you meet a wizard in the forest. He challenges you to a duel. What weapon do you want to use?”. Use ice charm. “wizard melts ice charm with fire crystals”. Throw nettle poison. “wizard vanishes. You may proceed.”
Ahhhh, memories! I think I’ll go read a choose your own adventure book while I drink a RC cola & eat pop rocks! 🙂